You can now watch nesting ospreys online

KAMLOOPS - The ospreys are moving in at a farm near Kamloops and a newly-installed webcam is allowing us to watch the beautiful birds make a home and raise a family without disturbing them.

After the camera was first installed, a bald eagle took a look around the nest. Not what the people at WildSafe B.C. were hoping for, but eventually an osprey claimed it. Provincial WildSafe B.C. Coordinator Frank Ritcey says they realized there was a risk of eagles or geese taking over the nest when they set it up before the ospreys were due back.

“It’s very exciting, really cool,” Ritcey says. “In the greater scheme of things this is just about sharing how cool nature is.”

Credit: WildSafe B.C.

Live feed

The hope of the many partners involved in the project is to allow students and researchers to learn more about the birds by watching them to see how much biomass they bring to their young and how fast they grow. While the video feed will be live the action will also be recorded.

“We have a couple really good bird experts who we will be passing off information to as well,” Ritcey says.

Ritcey notes they hope to drive donations to both WildSafe B.C. and the naturalist club by raising awareness through the live feed.

The feed went live April 17 and the osprey was already spotted moving sticks around. It is expected eggs will soon be laid as well.

The camera is located at Tranquille Farm Fresh and is intended to allow people to watch the birds up close in an unobtrusive manner. If you do wish to see the nest in person you are asked to keep a respectful distance during one of the agritourism activities provided at the farm.

Credit: WildSafe B.C.

Footage of the first long day in the nest.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.